Surviving a six-week coma at St. Paul’s

Kathy Johnston of Port Coquitlam and her family, husband John Johnston and daughters Marina, 15, and Madelyn, eight months (ages are at the time the photo was taken).Photo by
Submitted photo

On Dec. 8, 1998, I had a spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

This is extremely rare and I have been told by cardiologists that I had a better chance of being struck by lightning than to have this happen.

Apparently I am the123rd person worldwide to have survived this rare dissection, in which a tearappears suddenly in the artery.

The only common factor they can come up with is that it happens more frequently in women either during labour or postpartum.

I was nine months postpartum.

Dr. Margaret Blackwell from Royal Columbian Hospital saved my life by diagnosing this rare condition so early. She is very involved in women’s health issues, particularly heart disease, liaises frequently with the transplant team at St. Paul’s and also gives symposia on women’s heart issues.

I had a double bypass at RCH and then, when stabilized, was transferred to St. Paul’s, where I was given 72 hours to live unless I had a heart transplant. I then got infections, so was off the transplant list.

People need to know that heart issues are not just a male problem. There seems to be an unfounded belief that men have heart attacks more frequently than women. Women need to be checked and just as concerned about signs and symptoms of heart attacks as men.

At St. Paul’s I was in the intensive care unit for approximately five weeks in a drug-induced coma. My husband came in daily for updates. The nurses were extremely patient with him and explained everything that was going on, which included about 10 intravenous lines and a heart and lung machine in my groin. He became very familiar with my progress regarding medications and other treatments due to the patience and understanding of the ICU nurses.

One of the doctors in ICU, Dr. Grant, was the first person that gave my husband hope. He said, “I think we can get her through this.” This was amazing news for my husband, and to this day he cries when he tells the story.

My other daughter was 15 at the time. She was not coping well at all, so social workers that work at St. Paul’s took her under their wing and helped her tremendously. They obviously have a holistic approach to care. Not only treating me but dealing with the needs and emotions of my family.

Eventually my heart began to strengthen and there was no longer a need for a heart transplant. I was moved up to cardiology. Amazing things happened. Nurses who had taken care of me in ICU came up to my room to see how I was doing! They obviously really cared about my well-being. Since I had been in a coma for so long, all my muscles had atrophied. I couldn’t walk, stand up or even feed myself.

I had been in the hospital six weeks, unconscious. Slowly I became conscious of what had happened, where I was, and how lucky I was to have beaten the odds.

But the thing I remember most vividly was the Sunday when a nurse came in and asked me if I would like to have a bath. She didn’t need to do that, so did it out of the kindness of her heart. It was an awful lot of work for her since I had to be lifted into a “hammock” and slowly hoisted into the bath.

I remember to this day, 14 years later, the feeling of being immersed in the warm bubble bath she poured for me. It was glorious. I hadn’t had a shower or bath for six weeks. She absolutely went above and beyond the call of duty drying me off and dressing me, but I felt so good. I went back to find that nurse to tell her the difference she had made but never found her. I believe she is one of the reasons I am still alive.

The nurses even went so far as to make sure I had a private room so my baby could visit any time without bothering others.

The doctors and nurses at St. Paul’s are extraordinary. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for everything they did for me and my family, and because of them I am alive.

I shudder to think how much taxpayers’ money is being spent to defend Premier John Horgan and ...

Vancouver Flyers

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